AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. (WHSV) - Augusta county school board members say they were blind-sided by news out of Richmond over masks in the classrooms. A child whose parent has elected that he or she is not subject to a mask mandate should not be required to wear a mask under any policy implemented by a teacher, school, school district, the Department of Educationor any other state authority. AUGUSTA COUNTY, Virginia (WVIR) - As COVID-19 cases rise within Augusta County Schools, many people continue to speak out against mask requirements. The school board met Thursday night to discuss their back-to-school. If you can't find the answer, feel free to give us a call or send us an email. As always, we will continue to monitor the situation and communicate any changes to you. But she also says this guidance makes sense because of the more transmissible Delta variant. Augusta County Public Schools. //]]> Subscribe to usat newsleader.com. This profile is in addition to your subscription and website login. There were no specific numbersgiven as far as the number of COVID cases that would make the board consider extending the mandatory mask policy, only a very broad explanation by the board's chair. Under the protocol, masks are required for all students, staff and visitors to all school district facilities and on buses, regardless of vaccination status. You will receive an email to complete the registration. Although theres not yet an indoor mask mandate in Virginia, the CDC says there should be. Staunton and Waynesboro schools will continue requiring masks for all students and staff. Waynesboro Public Schools followed the VDHs guidance and voted earlier this week to mandate masks for elementary students and staff. ", As of its most recent update on Jan. 13, the CDC "recommends universal indoor masking by allstudents (ages 2 years and older), staff, teachers, and visitors to K-12 schools, regardless of vaccination status.". I want to work with you. Anastasio said the big three in minimizing the spread of COVID-19 in schools are universal masking, vaccination when possible and pool testing, which Augusta agreed to take part in at the end of the last school year. We fear if we dont have universal masking, the letter stated, there will be outbreaks warranting school closure.. New CDC guidance says some counties in our viewing area meet the threshold to put those face coverings back on. Afterward, the public spoke and most of the comments were about masks in school. Face coverings and masks will be optional at Charleston County schools when students return to their classrooms Aug. 18. However, in a letter sent to families of students Thursday, Superintendent Eric Bond said masks would be optional for staff Monday as well. The school board voted unanimously Aug. 9 to allow the district to change . "We have to consider how the mask is affecting them emotionally," Simmons said. AUGUSTA, Ga. - The Richmond County Board of Education met Tuesday night to get a COVID update from the superintendent. On Tuesday, Richmond County Superintendent Kenneth Bradshaw displayed a map of Georgia for the school board and said, "The map tells it all with all that red.". There is [sic] three reasons why COVID cases are going up. I believe in Jesus Christ. Board member Donna Wells stated that the board learned this afternoon that legislation passed earlier this year requires schools to follow CDC recommendations for mask wearing. By Jessica Mallow. Already have a commenting profile? The school board is elected, and the current superintendent is Dr. Eric Bond. My recommendation to follow recommendation of the CDC is on the basis of following those who are more knowledgeable than I am regarding information on the pandemic.. "If between now and then things go crazy," Shiflett said. When voting to rescind the mask mandate, the Augusta County School Board said it would watch COVID numbers in schools and keep the mandate in place if numbers weren't trending in a good direction. Kortney Lockey, Lynchburg Bureau - Multimedia Journalist. The policy was part of the districts response to COVID last school year, but now state law prohibits individual school systems from requiring students to wear masks. The availability of onsite testing will be of particular help since testing appointments at area providers have been backed up and there are shortages of at-home, rapid tests available for purchase. All rights reserved. VERONA Augusta County Public Schools will continue requiring face masks for students and staff at least three more weeks. Please note the display name will appear on screen when you participate. window.__mirage2 = {petok:"ndsTchhICxLNjF_dxI18aRlyWnQfS.IeNB3Ql0MS2hM-1800-0"}; Contact Patrick (he/him/his) atphite@newsleader.comand follow himon Twitter @Patrick_Hite. Masks are still required on buses per federal law. Parent Portal Student registration DOCUMENTS PERSONNEL Acceptable use policy STAFF Portal bGMS construction update RMS Construction Update Get notified when the ePaper has been delivered (requires subscription), Augusta Public Schools to enforce mask wearing for all students, staff, visitors, Augusta Public School Board pursues pool testing for reducing pandemic requirements. Wayne District representative Tim Swortzel made the motion to make face-coverings optional and North River representative Nicholas Collins seconded. My biggest concern is, I would never go into your home and tell you whats best for your child, McCormick said. Copyright 2021 WHSV. In numbers reported throughThursday morning, Augusta County was at 87positive cases this week, with 12 of those at Stuarts Draft High School and 11 more at Stuarts Draft Elementary. This is a political scam to see who is going to sit down and shut up, Riverheads student Joshua Cox said . Hi, to comment on stories you must create a commenting profile. Ed.D., Deputy Superintendent (540) 245-5108, Where Students Grow Intellectually, Physically, and Emotionally. Starting Thursday, masks will be required for students, staff, and visitors to all district facilities and buses, regardless of vaccination status. The speakers who opposed the policies voiced concerns about safety issues, parental and privacy rights, and religious freedom. The Columbia County Board of Education will be withdrawing its requirements for students and faculty to wear face-coverings beginning Sept. 29. Best for a great weekend. Create a commenting profile by providing an email address, password and display name. Log in to join the discussion. Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. In the last five weeks since students returned from winter break, Augusta County Schools have reported 889 positive cases, the highest five-week total of the school year. Kati McCormick was the only board member to vote against the measure. Your cooperation with this change is expectedand appreciated. They have thrived and remained healthy.. The superintendent is great, the principal was wonderful. Fourteen people spoke out against the mandates, citing their fear of heath issues they believe could be caused by masks. Staunton and Waynesboro schools will continue requiring masks for all students and staff. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines. Here's how fast the special use permit process has gone for Houff's Churchville pit, Resignation of Staunton City Manager Steve Rosenberg: Councilor Mead's remarks, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. A sign encourages students, teachers and visitors to wear masks at Ladson Elementary School on Aug. 11, 2021. That is its highest weekly total of the school year. Its vaccination that Walensky says will prevent her biggest fear. Make masks mandatory! Hope everyone is doing well. [CDATA[ About 20 minutes into the school. The CDC released this map of the country, which says how your city or county is doing as far as COVID-19 transmission. As areas around the state see an uptick in COVID-19 cases, with many related to the delta variant, the Virginia Department of Health, in partnership with the Virginia Department of Education, released guidance on July 21 that urged masks for all students and staff at elementary schools, regardless of vaccination status. More than 300 Augusta County students have tested positive for COVID-19 since school started four weeks ago. That comes days after Staunton and Waynesboro announced their school divisions will continue to require masks to help with COVID-19 mitigation with no end date set for thosemandates. As we learn more, I am comfortable with yes. Patrick Hite is The News Leader's educationreporter. Copyright 2023 Augusta County Public Schools. Some counties within the BRHD qualify for indoor masking, per the CDC guideline.Charlottesville and Albemarle County are not there as of today, but as you can see, the 7-day moving average is going in the wrong direction district-wide. If your area is orange or red, you should require masks inside. Wear a mask, wash your hands, stay safe. Patrick Hite is The News Leader's education and sports reporter. The Augusta County, VA is not responsible for the content of external sites. The Augusta Board of Education voted Wednesday night, 5 to 1, to mandate mask wearing. That's why we try our best to make it easy to live in this beautiful place we call home. Augustas annual free backpack, school supplies event scheduled for Sunday, Amid shouts and anger from parents, Skowhegan-area school board requires masks for first weeks of school, Madison man serving 30 days for violation of privacy in cellphone incident, With Domino's opening in Farmington, 'pizza wars' taking place on community Facebook group, Reporting Aside: As China woman confronts fatal diagnosis, she hopes for a final wish, Girls basketball: Lawrence defeats Brunswick to win Class A title, Clinton man sentenced to at least 9 months in jail for reckless driving that killed girlfriend. Augusta County Public Schools reported on its dashboard that the week of Jan. 9 it had 236 total cases of COVID, including 209 among students. McCormick said she wished the discussion about masking would have been at the business meeting instead. He shared the letter from the pediatricians at the board meeting. Kortney joined the 10 News team as a Lynchburg Bureau Reporter in May 2021. Stay Connected . So far this week the school division has reported 85 casesdespite studentsbeing out all week because of a holiday and snow. A month since Rosenberg was forced out, Staunton City Council hasn't secured search firm, Staunton man pleads guilty to a string of burglaries, gets nearly 10 years in prison, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. How to order free testing kits from the government, Augusta schools' 1:1 tech rollout under way, benefiting students who have gone without, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Other board members shared their reasoning for voting in favor of the mask mandate. Accommodations will be made for students and employees unable to wear a mask for documented medical reasons. AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. (WHSV) - Augusta county school board members say they were blind-sided by news out of Richmond over masks in the classrooms. Heritage Pharma plans to start testing Monday, Jan. 24, and families are asked to stay tuned for more details. FISHERSVILLE The Augusta County School Board voted unanimously to make masks optional at all grade levels for both staff and students Thursday night at Wilson Memorial High School, which was met with cheers from the packed auditorium. Simply, we just want our students back everyday and back safely. Shenandoah Valley Center for Advanced Learning, Valley Career & Technical Center49 Hornet RoadFishersville, VA 22939Phone: (540) 245-5002Fax: (540) 885-0407info@valleytech.us. Collins said he worded his motion so it gave a date for going mask optional, but also gave the board its own options. He was referring to how the Georgia Department of Public Health color-codesCOVID-19 concentrations. To date, they have distributed 20,230 devices. See Offers. Ensure that the phone number is not blocked in phone settings. Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. In the meantime, there are many ways for you to get vaccinated in our community. "We'll revisit it. Login. However, counties around the state had already rejected the policies, and lawsuits appear to show funding is not in jeopardy for localities that voted no, according to a report from the Courthouse News Service. The general election was held on November 3, 2015. Vaccinated teachers and students don't have to wear masks inside school buildings. Learn more. Click here for "Masks and Safety Protocols" . The Augusta County School Board unanimously affirmed at its meeting Thursday they would follow the law as now presented to them. To get one, go to the subscriptions page. Heres why. Copyright 2023 WSLS.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. Several attendees at Tuesday night's Aiken County school board meeting jumped at the sound of a woman outside the meeting room shouting, "Make masks mandatory! If you dont, I dont have a problem with that either.. If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page. Augusta County residents fill Wilson Memorial High School's auditorium on Wednesdaynight for a school board meeting where transgender policies and a mask mandate were voted on. Vaccinated teachers and students don't have to wear masks inside school buildings. Im not real sure how well they work to begin with, Dana Worley, her mom, said. Glenn Youngkin's executive order on masks in schools. Were gonna have to step back, go by the law, and prove them wrong, Ward said. 1:30 PM Community Policy Management Team. Kristine Welcher, a licensed nurse, speaks out against a mask mandate at Wednesday nights Augusta County School Board meeting at Wilson Memorial High School in Fishersville. . Pediatric death is rare, but not zero, so its our responsibility to protect all children. Bradshaw said they are not putting an end-date on theprotocol, but that they are continuing to monitor the latest data and consult with experts on the necessary way to proceed. But othersincluding her momhave a different opinion. Now it is easier than ever to stay up-to-date with the news. MORE | Threat puts Thomson High School put on. Mask Policy Due to recent in local COVID conditions, the advice of our local health department, and school divisions policies, masks are now mandatory for all students, staff, and visitors. Welcher, a licensed nurse and mental health professional, said her child in pre-K came home from school last year with remnants of food, moisture and snot from being forced to wear a face-covering for eight hours. Again, we are excited to begin the year and look forward to having our students back. All say theyre waiting for additional guidance from the Virginia Department of Education, the Virginia Department of Health and Governor Ralph Northam. on. Harrisonburg man charged with crimes connected to Jan. 6 attack on U.S. Capitol, Charlie Obaugh RV & Outdoor Student Athlete of the Week. The Augusta County School Board is a seven-member board elected by district to four-year terms. Not even fire-engine red Augusta County is on board with Gov. Walensky says thats not the case now, and vaccines are very effective. Many board members said they are not happy that the decision is out of their hands, and went on to say they want things to change in Richmond. I would rather go with safety; I want kids to be in school five days a week.. McCormick voted against the mandate, saying she believes the decision for students to wear masks should be up to families, not the school administration. Please wait for the page to reload. Im asking for a choice for a virtual option during this surge. MORE: Mask Mandates Are Hot Topic at Columbia County School Board Meeting Sign up for breaking news alerts. Find Augusta County, Virginia public schools, including charter schools, k-12, elementary, middle, and high schools. Enter your email and password to access comments. Schools, including in Waynesboro and Augusta County, have the freedom to "implement local mask policies." Waynesboro school board members will meet 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Waynesboro High School and are expected to tackle the state's guidelines when discussing the city's reopening plan. Our children under 12 years of age are not eligible to be vaccinated, so the best thing to protect them is to continue masking and social distancing, the letter from the local pediatricians said. VERONA Officials with Augusta County Public Schools have announced that masks won't be required beginning Monday for students, staff and visitors. In rare occasions, some vaccinated people infected with the Delta variants after vaccination may be contagious and spread the virus to others, she said. He said the Maine Department of Education is strongly recommending school in person, universal masking and following other recommendations such as hand washing and staying home when sick. Still, theres no doubt this will make for some challenging school environments. In the central Virginia community, as of the July 27 update, here are the following localities in the: The potential for this to be a problem is much, much lower in areas with low amounts of disease, said CDC Director Rochelle Walensky. North River representative Nick Collins made the motion Thursday, which gives the school board a chance to reevaluate the decision in the coming weeks if there are any legal challenges to Virginia Gov. The CDC also hasnt said how teachers can know which students are vaccinated or how parents will know which teachers are immunized. All rights reserved. Studentswill be permitted to remove masksduring lunch and while outside. AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. (WVIR) - Augusta County Public Schools is set to become mask-optional in three weeks. The numbers have fluctuated within the school division. To be considered for employment, you must provide the following: A completed online application Transcripts or high school diploma (if required for the position for which you are applying). At their meeting. Send us your news tip here. Becoming a Foster Parent Become a foster parent to a child in need. If your area is orange or red, you should require masks inside. Only two people spoke out in favor of masks. VERONA Augusta County Public Schools will continue requiring face masks for students and staff at least three more weeks. Please subscribe to continue reading 0 Comments Get local news delivered to your inbox! : Plenty of Augusta-area locations offer them, More: At-home COVID test website launches early. The board voted to confirm that they will abide by the law, but members went on to say they would like to write to Richmond and shake the tree.. While Aiken County has lifted mandatory mask mandates inside its schools, Richmond County says for now it won't be changing any of its mask or social distancing guidelines. I hope youre on the same side.. The testing will at first be offered to only employees and students (with parents' permission), but the school district is open to possibly expanding it to the rest of the community. "TheBoard and administration have consideredand reviewedthe continued reduction of positive cases amongourstudentsand staff, as well as recent court rulings, General Assembly action,Executive Order 6, andpendingHealth and Safety Codes Board actionnext week," Bond wrote in an email to The News Leader asking about the decision for staff. The Augusta County School Board held a special session on July 29th to discuss what turned out to be two issues. I was excited not to have them (masks), but then I saw new data said the delta variant could infect people with the vaccine and could result in a spread. . When voting to rescind the mask mandate, the Augusta County School Board said it would watch COVID numbers in schools and keep the mandate in place if numbers weren't trending in a good direction. Contact tracing will only be done when there's anoutbreak, which is definedas"10% of a grade level, staff or entire school," per the letter. The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Title IX Coordinator Kelly F. Troxell Ed.D., Executive Director of Personnel (540) 245-5107, Section 504 Coordinator Douglas W. Shifflett, Jr. Ed.D, Deputy Superintendent (540) 245-5108. EVANS, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - The decision for Columbia County schools to require masks comes after the district says it has at least 1,000 people at home quarantining, and 296 more students who. Use the form below to reset your password. It had already been announced that students could go masklessfollowing a vote by the school board in January, but there was some question about whether teachers would still be required to wear masks under requirements fromthe Occupational Health and Safety Administration and the Department of Labor and Industry. People are also reading 'Cousin Eddie' display from 'Christmas Vacation' leads to Kentucky police response Do you have a story idea? Masks may be removed during lunch and while outside. Tuesday Columbia County school leaders made their decision on the mask mandate. The CDC recommends those with COVID-19 should isolate for five days and, if they are asymptomatic or their symptoms are resolving, then wear a mask for fivedays when around others. Virginias approach to COVID-19 has always been driven by the science, and we continue to emphasize that the only way out of this pandemic is through vaccination., A spokesperson for the Blue Ridge Health District, Jason Elliott, said in an interview with NBC29 last week that it is extremely important -- probably the most important -- to get vaccinated now more than it ever has been before.. Board Chairperson Amanda Olson told McCormick there had been more of a discussion for the mask mandate at a board workshop a couple of weeks earlier, which McCormick did not attend. Thank you for visiting the Augusta County, VA. You will be redirected to the destination page below in 0 seconds. AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) - "It's just not right to have them mandate it," said 8th grader Jonathan Vasquez. Designed and sold by artists. This a wonderful school district to work, and a beautiful area! The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Kelly F. Troxell Ed.D., Executive Director of Personnel (540) 245-5107, Douglas W. Shifflett, Jr. Beloved local eatery, The Pie Chest, closing for good this month, Family of Ukrainian refugees using music to adapt to life in Charlottesville. Timothy Simmons, who represents the Pastures District, said he is in favor of making masks optional. All rights reserved. Add the 10-digit school phone number and the Augusta County Schools district phone number (540-245-5100) to your phone contacts. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). The superintendent also reminded families that student assessments, such as Georgia Milestones, will count toward student promotion. Already registered? You can share 5 more gift articles this month. AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. (WVIR) - The Augusta County School Board voted unanimously Thursday night not to adopt model policies for the treatment of transgender students put forth by the. Starting on Jan. 24, Highland County Public Schools says masks will be recommended to protect students and staff amid a high number of COVID-19 cases in the county. . Augusta County Schools will become mask-optional in three weeks. This huge statewide spike, and the 29schools that were shifted to distance learning in Richmond County, led to the school board's reaffirming its mask mandate Tuesday. His first item of focus is the rights of parents. Copyright 2021 WVIR. School Superintendent Steven Flynt announced the rescinding of the mask mandate during the board's regular session Tuesday. Latest trends. No parent electing that a mask mandate should not apply to his or her child shall be required to provide a reason or make any certification concerning their childs health or education. Teacher at Dixon Preschool Center Augusta County Public Schools 4.2 Over the summer, our children have been maskless, Welcher said. AUGUSTA The Augusta Public Schools will require students, staff and visitors to wear masks regardless of vaccination status next school year. Even though mask mandates will not be enforced inside school, masks will still be required on school buses, as well as for staff members and adults inside the school building. What we in public health and science are worried about is the virus and (how many) potential mutations away we are from a very transmissible virus that has the potential to evade our vaccines in terms of how it protects us from severe disease and death, she said.
Berwyn Police Department Mugshots,
Embezzlement Is An Example Of Which Type Of Crime,
Articles A